Research group: Cristina Cereda, Orietta Pansarasa, Stella Gagliardi and Daisy Sproviero

The research activity is mainly focused on genomic and trascriptomic studies of different neurological diseases. The techniques employed are include: Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Sanger sequencing and the major molecular techniques. The presence of NGS technologies allow a “deep sequencing” approach to solve genetic cases by both finely tuned gene panel and whole exome. A RNA-seq approach is commonly used to investigate RNA metabolism and to characterize coding RNA and non-coding RNA. Moreover, to define disease mechanisms and to identify potential biomarkers we used: western blotting and filter retardation, immunoprecipitation including ChIP, RIP and DRIP, ELISA assay, confocal microscopy, Real Time, HRM, and mass spectrometry. As regards biomarkers discovery we focused on extracellular vesicles investigation by NTA protocols, flow cytometry, Alpha technology and transmission electron microscopy. The Center develops all the experimental models to study molecular mechanisms of neurological disorders: primary cultures, cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) obtained from fibroblasts and lymphocytes of patients then differentiated in neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, we are developing a new tridimensional cellular model by a 3D bio-printer to generate and characterize a 3D model of neuromuscular junction.

A PhD student will has the possibility to choose among different projects but also to develop a new project and to use all the instruments available in the Center. The PhD student will has the possibility to collaborate with different Italian and foreign Universities and Institutions where he/she can spend a period in a foreign Institution where he/she can complete the research activity.

Recent Publications:

• Ganassi M, Mateju D, Bigi I, Mediani L, Poser I, Lee HO, Seguin SJ, Morelli FF, Vinet J, Leo G, Pansarasa O, Cereda C, Poletti A, Alberti S, Carra S. A Surveillance Function of the HSPB8-BAG3-HSP70 Chaperone Complex Ensures Stress Granule Integrity and Dynamism. Mol Cell. 2016 Sep 1;63(5):796-810. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.07.021.
• Crippa V, Cicardi ME, Ramesh N, Seguin SJ, Ganassi M, Bigi I, Diacci C, Zelotti E, Baratashvili M, Gregory JM, Dobson CM, Cereda C, Pandey UB, Poletti A, Carra S. The chaperone HSPB8 reduces the accumulation of truncated TDP-43 species in cells and protects against TDP-43-mediated toxicity. Hum Mol Genet. 2016 Sep 15;25(18):3908-3924. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw232.
• Pellacani S, Sicca F, Di Lorenzo C, Grieco GS, Valvo G, Cereda C, Rubegni A, Santorelli FM. The Revolution in Migraine Genetics: From Aching Channels Disorders to a Next-Generation Medicine. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 2016 June 13. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00156 (I.F. 4.609 – 2015)